(A/N: This is a tri-view chapter! Just to warn for warning's sake.)
After he spoke with Edelgard, Dimitri was given a few things to keep him occupied; books, mostly, and a wooden sword. He couldn't decide if it was Edelgard being friendly, or mocking him to some extent. Perhaps it was some combination of the two.
He had a better sense of time here—partially thanks to being able to walk outside of his room once a day, and the general noise and hush of the underground place signified morning or night. He knew that a few days passed since he talked to Edelgard; murmurs from when he walked around the monastery suggested that Count Bergliez—and with him, more prisoners from the Kingdom—would be here soon.
Someone knocked on the door while Dimitri tried to determine how sturdy the wooden sword truly was. Edelgard opened the door, and he sat aside the sword and stood.
"I need you for something," Edelgard said evenly.
Dimitri nodded, deciding not to question her—in the worst case, he could still defend himself. Although she gestured for him to follow, she still walked behind him like usual. In that way, she led him to the classrooms—he stepped inside the Blue Lions classroom to see Dedue, Ingrid, Sylvain, Felix, and Ashe all lingering around their usual seats from the academy.
While his former classmates showed either surprise or joy at seeing him, he looked back at Edelgard; she cut him off before he could question it.
"I'm giving you a chance to speak with them," she explained. "Preferably about something productive, but it's your choice. I'll be coming back when I think you've had enough time. After that, I want to hear any statements you can make towards the war effort."
She left, and once again he wondered the intent of this. Dimitri walked to where he had sat during the academy. They sat in silence for a moment—he assumed none of them fully understood what to say. It's been many months since he's seen any of them.
"Is this everyone that the Empire captured?" Dimitri finally asked.
"My father's in a cell somewhere," Felix replied simply. "But otherwise, this is it."
"What about the others? Mercedes and Annette?"
"Still with the Central Church, last I heard," Sylvain said. "We were told they would help us—Seteth and Flayn came and everything—but once Count Bergliez and his soldiers arrived they were gone."
"Hopefully they're all right," Ingrid mused. She looked around at the rest of them. "Although, considering who we have here, it doesn't seem likely that Edelgard would have killed them."
"She is…difficult to understand," Dedue added. "The emperor has made a point to give us smaller things like decent meals and time to roam, yet she kept us apart."
"Likely to prevent us from talking," Ashe said, looking at him. "Although that makes it strange on why she would give us the opportunity now."
"Nonetheless, let's not waste it," Dimitri decided. All attention went back to him; he had forgotten that kind of respect. "Due to the circumstances, I'm a bit…unaware of recent events. If someone can explain…"
Most of them murmured some kind of agreement, then took turns sharing what they knew. Even if it was about the war—because of the war—he was glad to have the opportunity to talk with friends again.
—
Hilda poked her head out the door, then withdrew back inside the classroom and closed the door.
"She doesn't seem to have anyone listening," Hilda reported dutifully.
"I certainly would," Lorenz muttered. "Even if we are allied at present, I would not trust anyone to be discussing something civil. We could very well be plotting her demise."
"I, for one, appreciate the chance," Lysithea replied, frowning at him. "It always feels like I'm being watched here. It's a reassurance when I'm not."
Marianne just muttered some kind of agreement. Claude had a feeling they would ramble on for a while if he let them, so he tapped on the teacher's desk to get their attention. Everyone turned towards him with their own little…flair, for lack of a better word.
"Edelgard wanted us to talk things over," Claude announced. "I can't determine who sends what, though, and neither can any of you. Since at least I would still need to head back to Derdriu for roundtable conferences after this, I wanted to take this opportunity to see what you guys think about things—specifically, post-war."
"Does Edelgard know where the Central Church is hiding?" Lorenz asked, partly curious but partly haughty.
"She doesn't," Claude replied, shaking his head. "But she's fairly confident they'll show up soon."
"They are running out of places to stay," Marianne murmured. "Their only option would be to attack."
"Right—and the monastery's their most likely target," Claude said. "Sure, they could attack Derdriu or Enbarr, sit around in what's left of Arianrhod or try to capture Fort Merceus, but Garreg Mach would be a valuable asset. Especially since the anniversary is coming up."
"Has it really been two years already?" Lysithea asked, frowning at the thought.
"It has. Whether or not they come here or somewhere else, though, Edelgard's aiming to make it the last battle of the war—either the Central Church will fall, or she would risk everything else in the effort."
"Would she be that…determined?" Lorenz asked skeptically. "She's been rather strategic so far."
"It's just a guess on my part," Claude admitted. "But I would personally prefer it if Leicester didn't fall with her."
"Here here," Hilda agreed. Frowning, she added, "I would like to go home after all this, thank you. I would rather not be dead, anyway."
"No one does," Claude reasoned. "To that end, I know you guys were asked to stay, but if anything happens I want you to leave. I've already made that clear to Edelgard. The Alliance offered Adrestia our support, not our lives."
They all murmured an agreement, and Claude nodded. While he agreed with Edelgard's beliefs—to a large extent, at least—he didn't want to risk friends' lives in order to achieve her goals. Not until he knew everyone had the same post-war ideas—the same post-war goals.
—
"I can hear them talking."
It was nothing more than murmurs, granted—nothing she could understand without actively listening in—but there were a few different tones. Concerned, angry, certain—every now and then there was a laugh from the Golden Deer classroom.
Edelgard sighed. She didn't have any meetings—she didn't need to ascertain who would give what, if only because those closest to her have already stated their piece—so she sat in the Black Eagles classroom. Byleth had come shortly after she let Dimitri talk with his former classmates, so for the most part they were able to hold some kind of conversation; Hubert and Monica were assessing any losses in Count Bergliez's army, and how many of them needed to rest.
"Do you think it's actually anything productive?"
"It could be," Byleth reasoned. "Just more productive in a personal sense, maybe."
"It's possible," Edelgard agreed.
She paused for a moment, then looked at Byleth.
"I don't believe I've actually gotten a statement from Jeralt's Mercenaries about aid," Edelgard noted. "You've been employed under the Empire for the entire war, but I know Jeralt is hesitant to fight Rhea."
"He says he would rather avoid her," Byleth noted, nodding. "But even then, he'll stay for as long as we're getting paid—that goes for the rest of the company as well."
Edelgard murmured some acknowledgement, then hesitated.
"It might be a bit early to ask, but…" She watched Byleth's expression for any changes, although she could almost guess the answer. They've already confirmed this, to some extent. "What are your personal plans for after the war ends?"
Byleth smiled somewhat. "I was actually going to ask if I could stay with you—for as long as you'll have me, at least."
"As a mercenary?" Edelgard asked.
She let out something that clearly sounded like sheepish laughter.
"I was thinking…as a partner?" Edelgard's expression must have changed, because Byleth continued a bit quickly, "If you want. I know we haven't necessarily said anything about feelings, but I do love you. It just took a very long time to realize that."
Edelgard smiled, and Byleth returned it in a second.
"We're the same, then," Edelgard said. Her smile faltered for a moment, and it did not go unnoticed. "However, could I make a request? It's a…repeated question of ours, I'll admit, but I want to hear it said."
Byleth nodded, and Edelgard said it firmly but with some kind of care she didn't entirely realize she was capable of.
"Survive, please. Somehow, you are connected to Rhea, and in that respect I don't know if she'll try to target you."
"I won't fall during the battle," Byleth promised. Her expression went through the same change Edelgard's did. "Could I ask the same of you?"
"You may—and I don't intend to die soon, either."
Their smiles returned until someone stepped outside the classroom. Edelgard resumed a professional expression the best she could and offered a nod towards Claude.
"We've wrapped up," he announced.
"Good. Please send Dimitri and his group here—everyone with you may come as well. I'll get Count Bergliez and the Black Eagles."
Claude murmured some agreement and left, and Edelgard did the same.
There were only a few more things left to decide—after that, she hoped a majority of the fighting would come to an end.